How Tread Keeps you Safe of Icy, Wet Roads

Tread on a tire isn’t there only to help you know how old your tires are… the tread keeps you safe in icy, wet, slippery conditions!

If you look at your tire straight on, you’ll see some grooves in both directions – from one side of the tire to the other, and along the full length of the tire. At first glance, many people think that the water on the road gets passed through the side-to-side tread – this is not true.

Actually, it’s the deep tread around the whole tire that moves the water. This tread splits the water, allowing the liquid to gather in the grooves while the tall tread breaks through to grip the road.

But when there is too little tread remaining on the tire, there is no place for the water to go. Instead of the water being displaced in the grooves of the tread, the tire is displaced from the road!

Hydroplaning happens when the tread skims across the top of the water on the road instead of cutting through it to reach the road itself. This means you lose control of your tires, steering, and braking – a very dangerous combination!

Instead of leaving your family and your vehicle at risk, check your tire condition now before the rain and snow hit White Bear Lake. Tires should have a minimum of 2/32 of an inch of tread to be legally safe. However, we recommend a minimum tread of 4/32 of an inch for wet driving conditions, including ice, snow, and rain.

When you check your tires, keep an eye out for the wear indicator bars. These are small horizontal lines across the tire indicating the 2/32” tread height. If these bars are level with the surface of your tire, it’s time to replace your tires.

Stop by AM-PM Automotive Repair in White Bear Lake for a tire inspection or to purchase new tires. Our experienced auto repair technicians will help you select the best tires for your vehicle, and give you tips to maximize the life of your vehicle’s tires! Call our White Bear Lake auto repair shop at 651-426-0462 or request an appointment online.